Swimming apparatus



M. COUCHMIN.

SWIMMING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR 6. 1920.

1,361,687, vPatented Dec. 7,1920.

UNITED STATES PAJ'ENT OFFIGE.

MICHEL COUCHMIN, on NEW YORK, N. Y.

SWIMMING APPARATUS.

Application filed March 6,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MICHEL CoUoHMIN, a citizen of the Republic of Hungary, residing at the city, county, and State of New York, U. S. A., have invented new and useful Impovements in Swimming Apparatus, of Which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in swimming apparatus, the object of the invention being to provide an apparatus which can be carried on the back of the user and by means of which he can propel himself through the water, either in an upright position or lying in the ordinary manner.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the character described, which is adapted to be operated by the feet of the user, and which is extremely simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, and very eflicient in use.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel features of construction and combination of parts which will be more fully described hereinafter and particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification,

Figure 1 is a plan view of a swimming apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof; and

Fig. 3 is a front end view.

The same characters of reference designate the same parts in the different figures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, 2 designates a longitudinal bar, which may be of tubular form, such as is ordinarily used in the construction of bicycle frames. To one end of this bar is secured a T-shaped head 3, forming a bearing for a shaft to each end of which is secured a crank arm 4 carrying at its free end a pedal 5. At the opposite end of the bar 2 is secured in any suitable manner, as, for instance, by means of a pair of locknuts 6, a cross member or block 7 preferably of wood, to the lower edge of which is secured another member 8 having its under side concave in order to adapt it to fit over the back of the user. A strap 9 may be secured to one end of the member 8 and adapted to be fastened by means of a buckle carried by a second strap 10 secured at the op- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. '7, 1920.

1920. Serial No. 363,801.

posite end of the member 8, thereby to secure the apparatus to the body of the user.

The propelling apparatus comprises a pair of blades 11 mounted for rotation at each side of the block 7. As shown in the present instance, the members of each pair of blades have their inner ends secured in a rectangular hub 12, each of which hubs is secured by means of screw threads or in any other suitable manner to the ends of a shaft 13 which is mounted in a recess or groove in the upper edge of the block 7, the shaft being retained in said groove by means of staples 14, as shown in Fig. 1. Secured to the shaft 13 is a small sprocket 15, a recess being cut in the block 7 to accommodate said sprocket. A relatively large sprocket 16 is secured to the shaft of the cranks 4, and an endless chain 17 con-,.

nects the two sprockets, thereby to transmit motion from the pedals to the blades 11. It will be observed that the pairs of blades 11 are alternately disposed on the shaft 13, that is to say, they are located at right angles to each other, so that there will always be a blade at one side or other of the apparatus in the water, so as to permit a uniformity of motion to be maintained.

It is thought that the operation of the apparatus will be clear from the foregoing description. The bar 2 is preferably of such a length that when the block 7 is located on the back of the user just below the shoulders, the pedals will be at the right position to be easily engaged by his feet. Having securely fastened the strap, the user may walk into the water and as soon as he reaches water sufiiciently deep he may then engage the pedals with his feet and by alternately treading first with one foot and then with the other, the blades 11 will be operated and thus propel. him through the water. It will thus be observed that the swimmer may remain in an upright or standing position if he so desires, or may lie on his stomach, as shown in Fig. 2 as is usual when swimming, in either'of which positions his arms and hands are entirely free.

While I have described in detail the structures herein illustrated, it is to be understood that I do not thereby limit my invention to the precise features of construction shown, as I am aware that many mechanical changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the so I a pair of bladessecured to each end; of said shaft and extending radially thereof, the blades ofone pairbeing disposed in a plane perpendiclilarto-the plane of the other pair,

aisprocket yvheel mounted for rotation at the free end of sald bar, a chain and sprocket transmlssion from sald sprocket wheel to said shaft, and pedals for rotating said sprock -Whee In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

=-MICHEL COUGHMIN. 

